How do you repair a blister in a flat roof?

Question

There are a few bubbles or "blisters" on my flat roof. I can't afford $1400 for a new roof, so I'd like to fix it myself, any suggestions?

Answer 1

You are conversing with the home owner flat roof expert! I have a flat roof with some pitch to it, but very little.

What you can do: Make sure its warm weather and roof is pliable.

1. Cut a "V" slit in to the bubble about one inch long "V".

2. Then pour into the slit a generous amount of tar purchased at Lowes or Depot. Use a small funnel to do that. Fibered roof coating works just fine.

3. Then cover the slit with a coated piece of tar paper, or felt paper works fine too.

4. Weight it down with a cement block or blocks, be sure to place a piece of cardboard between the cement blocks and the patch so it doesnt stick to the blocks. The paper will of course stick to the roof, but that will easily come off and whats left it will soon be gone.

My last suggestion is to get rid of that roof when you can. Go put a Firestone Rubber Roof over that one. You will need to nail down plywood over that roof, and then bond the rubber with contact cement. I did all my flat roofs this way and GONE are the leak and repair problems. You can do it yourself, its as easy as laying carpet in a house.

GOOD LUCK

3.

Answer 2

cut out the bubbles, seal where the blister was. Then reseal the whole roof. I have found a fiber silver like paint, mopped on to be the best. Brush it all one way. The one that lasted the longest lengthof time, I built a berm around the out side edge, and kept the roof covered with about 3 inchs of water. I had to check it ever few days, in the summer it was the coolest room in the house. The water reflected the sun rays, and kept the roof cool enough it did not blister. I don`t recomment it because it was lots of time and water. But I read about it in a book and did it for an experment. I finally got tired and put on a pitch roof.
Which is what I should of done to start with.

Answer 3

We cut out and remove, patch over to reinforce, or simply monitor blisters. An older roof may also develop leaks where the asphalt has blistered or where the layers of roofing felt and bitumen have separated.

Answer 4

my husband a union carpenter and past roofer says you have to cut it to pop it first. Then you put on roofing cement to seal. He says that would get you by til you can get a new roof.(check every couple of years)
Roof Cement (Black Jack is a popular brand) is used around chimneys etc to stop leaking.
He said if it is a hot tar roof tar over the cement.
He said if it is fabric flat roof put down 90# and cement over that.

Answer 5

We put black tar on our camper and it is drying with bubbles all over the roof! Is the tar any good?

Answer 6

if it's not leaking don't mess with it. it'll be fine.if it is cut the blister and burn a piece of torch over it.leak gone.